Terms & Conditions

All payments and deposits made to Kenai Backcountry Adventures, LLC (“KBA”) are subject to these Terms & Conditions. By making a reservation, submitting payment, or participating in a trip, guests acknowledge that they have read, understand, and agree to these policies, including those relating to cancellations, weather, force majeure events, travel insurance, payment deadlines, fees, trip modifications, and guest responsibilities.

Cancellation Policy

Many KBA trips involve advance staffing, transportation, permits, aircraft logistics, accommodations, limited inventory, and other financial commitments made well before departure. Accordingly, the following cancellation policies apply to all reservations.

By completing a reservation, guests expressly agree to these terms.

No exceptions will be made due to illness, injury, medical emergencies, family emergencies, missed flights, travel delays, work obligations, changes in plans, adverse weather affecting travel, or any other unforeseen circumstance. For this reason, travel insurance is strongly recommended.

Cancellation by KBA

If KBA elects to cancel a trip for reasons solely within KBA’s control, guests will receive a refund of booking payments made directly to KBA.

Refunds do not include:

  • Online booking fees.
  • Processing fees.
  • TripSafe fees.
  • Other non-refundable third-party fees.

KBA shall not be responsible for any incidental, consequential, or additional expenses incurred by guests as a result of a cancellation, including but not limited to:

  • Airfare or airline change fees.
  • Lodging or accommodations.
  • Meals.
  • Ground transportation.
  • Rental vehicles.
  • Missed connections.
  • Lost wages.
  • Personal expenses.
  • Any other travel-related costs.

Guests are strongly encouraged to purchase travel insurance to protect against these risks.

Whenever practical, KBA may offer rescheduling or non-cash credit; however, KBA reserves the sole discretion to determine whether such options are available.

Minimum Participation Requirements

Some tours, expeditions, and guided trips require a minimum number of participants in order to operate. If a trip does not meet the required minimum participation level, KBA may cancel the trip, offer available alternatives, or provide the guest with the option to purchase additional spots in order to meet the required minimum.

If KBA cancels a trip because minimum participation has not been met, guests will receive a full refund of booking payments made to KBA for that trip, excluding non-refundable third-party fees, unless otherwise stated.

KBA is not responsible for airfare, lodging, meals, transportation, gear purchases, travel insurance premiums, missed travel, or any other outside costs or expenses incurred as a result of a trip not meeting minimum participation requirements. For this reason, travel insurance is strongly recommended.

Day Tours – No Aircraft Involved

Guest Cancellation

48 hours or more before departure

  • Refund of booking payments made to KBA, less a 10% administrative fee.
  • Non-refundable third-party fees are excluded.

Less than 48 hours before departure

  • No refund.
  • Full payment is forfeited.

No-shows

  • Full payment is forfeited.

Day Tours Involving Aircraft

Guest Cancellation

90 days or more before departure

  • Refund of booking payments made to KBA, less a 10% administrative fee.
  • Non-refundable third-party fees are excluded.

Less than 90 days before departure

  • No refund.
  • Full payment is forfeited.

No-shows

  • Full payment is forfeited.

Multi-Day Tours and Expeditions

Guest Cancellation

90 days or more before departure

  • Refund of booking payments made to KBA, less a 10% administrative fee.
  • Non-refundable third-party fees are excluded.

89–61 days before departure

  • Payments are non-refundable.
  • KBA may issue a non-cash credit equal to 50% of booking payments made.
  • Credits are valid for one year from the original departure date.
  • Credits are subject to availability.
  • Credits have no cash value and are non-transferable.

60 days or less before departure

  • No refund.
  • No credit.
  • Full payment is forfeited.

No-shows

  • Full payment is forfeited.

Custom Tours and Tailored Bookings

Custom itineraries, private trips, and tailored bookings are non-refundable.

All sales are final.

No refunds, credits, or changes are permitted unless expressly approved by KBA.

Tours or Services Operated by Third Parties

Certain itineraries may include services provided by airlines, air taxis, lodges, transportation companies, hotels, vessels, or other independent third parties.

Those providers maintain their own policies, fees, and cancellation terms.

Guests are responsible for any penalties, non-refundable amounts, or fees imposed by third-party providers.

KBA is not responsible for the acts, omissions, policies, schedules, delays, cancellations, or performance of third-party providers.

Bookings Made Through Third Parties

Reservations made through travel agencies, booking platforms, resellers, or other third parties are governed by that entity’s terms and conditions.

Requests for cancellations, modifications, refunds, or credits must be directed to the party through which the reservation was made.

KBA cannot process refunds or changes for third-party bookings.

Weather, Aviation Delays, and Travel Disruptions

Alaska travel is inherently weather dependent.

Trips involving aircraft, vessels, remote lodges, and wilderness operations may be delayed, interrupted, shortened, rerouted, extended, or otherwise modified due to weather, visibility, sea conditions, wildfires, transportation issues, safety concerns, mechanical issues, wildlife activity, or other circumstances beyond KBA’s control.

Weather-related delays, shortened itineraries, interrupted trips, missed trip days, delayed pickups, extended stays, or inability to operate according to the planned itinerary are not considered cancellations by KBA.

Such events do not entitle guests to refunds, credits, reimbursement, compensation, or damages.

Guests are solely responsible for expenses arising from delays or interruptions, including:

  • Lodging.
  • Hotels.
  • Meals.
  • Transportation.
  • Rental vehicles.
  • Airline changes.
  • Missed connections.
  • Additional travel expenses.
  • Personal expenses.
  • Incidental costs.

If weather prevents departure on the scheduled start date, KBA may attempt to operate the trip at a later time or on a shortened itinerary, subject to safety, logistics, and remaining trip duration. KBA is under no obligation to provide refunds, credits, or compensation for missed trip days.

If weather prevents pickup at the conclusion of a trip, KBA will continue to provide reasonable support and guide services under the original trip plan until safe extraction is possible. No additional guide or operational charges will be assessed solely because pickup has been delayed by weather while operating under the original trip plan.

Travel disruptions affecting arrival to or departure from the trip starting location, including missed flights, airline delays, ferry interruptions, road closures, or other transportation issues, are solely the responsibility of the guest and are not eligible for refund or compensation.

Travel delays, weather holds, missed connections, and schedule disruptions are inherent risks of travel in Alaska and are risks assumed by the guest.

Force Majeure

KBA shall not be liable for any delay, interruption, modification, cancellation, loss, expense, damage, injury, or failure to perform resulting from circumstances beyond its reasonable control.

Such events include, but are not limited to:

  • Severe weather.
  • Natural disasters.
  • Floods.
  • Wildfires.
  • Avalanches.
  • Earthquakes.
  • Pandemics.
  • Public health emergencies.
  • Government actions.
  • Travel restrictions.
  • Border closures.
  • Labor disputes.
  • Transportation interruptions.
  • Mechanical failures.
  • Utility outages.
  • Civil unrest.
  • Acts of God.
  • Wildlife activity.
  • Any other unforeseen event beyond KBA’s control.

Force majeure events do not constitute cancellations by KBA and do not create any obligation for refunds, credits, compensation, reimbursement, or damages beyond those expressly stated in these Terms & Conditions.

Under no circumstances shall KBA be liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages arising from any cancellation, delay, interruption, modification, or inability to operate a trip, regardless of cause.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is strongly recommended and may be mandatory for certain expeditions.

Guests are solely responsible for protecting themselves against:

  • Trip cancellation.
  • Trip interruption.
  • Travel delays.
  • Weather delays.
  • Missed connections.
  • Illness.
  • Injury.
  • Medical emergencies.
  • Emergency evacuation.
  • Lost baggage.
  • Additional lodging expenses.
  • Transportation costs.
  • Any other unforeseen circumstance.

Coverage, if any, is determined solely by the insurance policy purchased by the guest.

KBA makes no representation regarding the availability, scope, or adequacy of coverage provided by any insurance policy.

Payment Policy

Day Tours

Full payment is required at the time of booking.

Multi-Day Tours and Expeditions

A 50% deposit is required at the time of booking, with the remaining balance due 120 days before departure.

Reservations Made Within 120 Days of Departure

Full payment is required at the time of booking.

Failure to Pay

Failure to pay by the required deadline may result in cancellation of the reservation and forfeiture of any payments made.

Processing Fees and Taxes

All reservations are subject to a 3.0% processing fee.

Applicable local sales taxes will be added where required.

Online Booking Fees and Other Non-Refundable Fees

Third-party online booking fees, processing fees, TripSafe fees, and other non-refundable fees are non-refundable.

Refund calculations apply only to booking payments made directly to KBA.

Accordingly, the amount returned to the original payment method may be less than the total amount originally charged.

Passenger Weight Policy

Aircraft operations require careful weight and balance planning.

Guests are responsible for providing accurate weight information at the time of booking and notifying KBA of any material changes before departure.

Weight information is used solely for operational and safety purposes.

Additional charges may apply for guests exceeding standard planning assumptions.

Please refer to the Passenger Weight Policy for complete details.

Liability Waivers and Guest Responsibilities

Participation in KBA activities requires execution of a liability waiver.

Guests under eighteen (18) years of age must have a parent or legal guardian sign on their behalf.

Guests are responsible for arriving adequately prepared for their trip, meeting any physical requirements, following guide instructions, and reviewing all pre-trip information and policies.

Trip Modifications

KBA reserves the right to modify itineraries, routes, schedules, transportation, accommodations, activities, meeting locations, and other trip details whenever necessary due to weather, safety considerations, operational requirements, logistics, availability, minimum participation requirements, or other unforeseen circumstances.

Such modifications do not constitute a cancellation and do not entitle guests to refunds, credits, compensation, or damages.

KBA reserves the sole and final authority regarding trip operations and all decisions relating to safety, delays, cancellations, itinerary changes, credits, rescheduling, and trip modifications.